Mail-box.



A. TRAVELSTEOD.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24. 1915.

h l ,1 90,047. Patented July 4, 1916.

5 I I L i fi'FQUeZSZeacZ m: NORRIS FEYERS CU..FHOTl7-L|1ND., wAsmmirvrv. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT TRAVELSTEOD, OF MARION, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Application filed August 24, 1915. Serial 1701473200.

cipal object of the invention is to provide a device which will automatically open the box upon approach of a vehicle and hold the same open until the contents of the box can be removed and the vehicle passes on.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel operating means for the door of the box which will automatically return the same to its closed position after having been operated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which is particularly simple in construction, and cheap to manufacture, the same being capable of being made of sheet metal or the like.

WVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a mail box opener constructed in accordance with this invention, and Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the opener showing the box rempved.

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 1 designates a post or standard by the side of the road on which the shelf 2 is supported. This shelf is braced by means of the bracket 3 and is provided with a support at its outer end designated by the numeral 4 which engages and secures the bottom of the mail box 5 in place. This mail box is provided with the usual hinged door 6 at one end which is opened upon the approach of a vehicle so that the mail collection or deposit may be made without necessitating the driver leaving his set.

A suitable spacing washer 7 is secured to the support 4 immediately beneath the bottom of the box 5 and holds the wheel 8 in spaced relation with the box and stand, as

clearly shown in Fig. 1. This Wheel 8 is provided with a pheripheral recess 9 and connected near one terminal of the recess is the spring 10, the opposite terminal of which 1s connected to an eye carried by the post 1. The wheel is journaled on the support 4 and is provided with suitable openings 11, the use of which will appear as the description proceeds. Secured to the wheel by suitable U-bolts 12 is alever 13, the outer end of which projects beyond the end of the mail box as clearly shown and is arranged to be engaged by the wheel of the vehicle.

Pivotally connected to the wheel by the passage of a bolt 1A through one of the openings 11 is a link 15, the opposite end of which is pivoted as at 16 to the operating bar 17 the free end of which has hingedly connected thereto the operating arm 18, the

opposite end of which is formed with suitable openings for the reception of the rivets 19 which extend through the door 6 and form a means by which the arm 18 is connected to said door.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in use the device is supported in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1 and upon the approach of a vehicle, the wheel will engage the arm 13 thereby swing the'same and cause the wheel 8 to revolve. The revolution of the wheel 8 will cause pull to be exerted on the link 15 and thereby pull the rod 17 so that the arm 18 moves rearwardly. The movement of the arm 18 rearwardly will cause the door to swing down on its pivot so that the contents of the box may be removed. As soon as the contents of the box have been removed, and the vehicle passes on it will be seen that the spring 10 will return the whole to its normal position thereby causing the door to return to its closed position and leave the box in the normal condition.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

That is claimed is The combination with a mail box having to the free end of the rod, the opposite end In testimony whereof I affix my signaof the arm belng connected to the door 01 ture in. presence of two \ntnesses.

the mail box on qrm on the Wheel to cause r H l I 2 L 7 J the same to l'htate upon the approach or the LLBELI TR U ELSM vehicle and spring means to return the Wheel Witnesses: to its normal posltlon thereby closlng the FLoYD TmvELsTnon, door of the box. J. H. TRAVELSTEOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

